The boy spent five weeks in a tent, four weeks in a static caravan and several nights sleeping rough after approaching the council for help. Following his ordeal he was left emaciated and was detained in a psychiatric hospital for 11 months.

She also “felt unable to allow the council to use her holiday property in Cornwall whilst more suitable and permanent accommodation could be found that was acceptable to him”, the statement continued.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found Cornwall Council should pay the, now young man, £2,500 for the effects of its actions on his mental health, lost opportunities and placing him at risk.

And it ordered the council to pay the boy’s mother £1,500 for the "severe distress and frustration" it caused.

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Following the news, Cornwall Live readers have been voicing their opinions on the tragic case.

Some felt that the boy’s mother should not have received compensation.

Posting on Facebook, Cathy Barlow said the teenager had been “failed by everyone”.

“Words fail [me] after reading this,” she said.

“Why is his mother receiving compensation - fostering but unable to give her own child a roof over his head.”

Fiona Gamble added: “Awarding his mother who could not accommodate him £1,500 is just wrong! A very sad story where a boy who needed help from different organisations was failed. Hopefully he is now slowly rebuilding his life.”

But Sharon Rendell disagreed.

She said: “It is easy to judge, but speaking from experience, there is often a lot more to the story and back history that is not in the public domain. I didn't read anything that led me to feel it appropriate to describe the mother as a greedy or selfish.”